Emmerale’s Nicola Wheeler: My character’s miscarriage scenes were tough because I was pregnant

Emmerdale star Nicola Wheeler has opened up about her real-life baby joy and playing scenes where her character suffers a miscarriage.

And Nicola said that, although bosses had concerns, she felt the heartbreak had to be seen.

Her character, Nicola King, featured in emotional scenes after losing her unborn baby late last year.

The Lancashire-born actress was heavily pregnant at the time with her first baby with partner Matt.

“One of the producers phoned me to check I was OK with doing it,” confides Nicola as she settles down for a chat.

“I said I absolutely was OK as it’s important to tell these stories. Miscarriages happen and women don’t talk about them as much as they should.

“Obviously the story with my character is that she then went through the menopause.

“But a lot of women go on to have healthy children some of my friends did so I didn’t mind telling the story although I was pregnant in real life.

“I actually think it was more uncomfortable for the people around me when my character was talking about wishing the baby had survived. It made me pat my belly, thankful my baby was OK.”

While many actresses are coy about their age, Nicola volunteers that she’s 40, saying she’s always honest about that.

“My baby will come along just before I turn 41 and it was a later decision in life,” she admits.

“I’d never been opposed to having them but it’s just not something that’s been exceptionally important to me. But then you meet the right person and see life going in a different direction.

“Suddenly I felt a baby would be nice. That sounds reckless doesn’t it? It sounds like, ‘I won’t get a puppy, I won’t get a red dress, I’ll have a baby instead!’

“But I was told by a good friend that the minute you start thinking about it, do it, because it means you want to.

“You can play all the doubts when you’re older. I’ve had a fun life I’ve partied hard and enjoyed myself.”

Nicola jokes she’s been in a baby race with fellow Emmerdale actress Emma Atkins, who is also due in a matter of days.

She says lack of sleep apart that it’s been an easy pregnancy.

“People told me I was blooming, but I think I was just getting a fat face,” she laughs.

“Blooming is a polite way to say you’re puffing out with water retention.”

As her character isn’t having a baby, hiding the bump on-screen has meant the judicious use of winter coats, bags, scarfs and screen husband Jimmy (Nick Miles).

“Nick’s head sometimes hides it, which is brilliant. He’s had to lie in certain positions to hide my tummy.

“And I feel sorry for the directors who have camera plans of me walking into a room and then realise they have to change it and tell me to go and sit behind the table.”

There’s drama this week when Nicola takes baby Amba for a walk and, after a delayed return, talk of an “abduction” sweeps the village.

Nicola finds herself arrested as concerns are raised she’s taken the tot because of her early menopause.

The drama will be ramped up over the coming weeks with a lengthy break in Dubai in the offing for Nicola.

“She’s forgotten about babies and become a career woman,” explains Nicola.

“It becomes about her trying to persuade everybody that a six-month sabbatical would be a great idea.”

That’s the length of Nicola’s maternity leave but she’ll be back on screen in the autumn.

She has won awards for her sometimes bitchy character and admits she looks forward to a fiery return.

“I love the fact that my last scene was hurling a massive insult at someone.

“I’ll miss Nick but having been a loving mum it’ll be nice to come back and be a bit acidic again.”